The Good Boy (2026)

“Top Notch Thriller ” 

Jeremy Thomas and Jerzy Skolimowski, both individuals with track records for making quality cinema, have their names at the front of this British-Polish co-production (once you have got past a staggering 13 logos) which is currently playing in selected UK cinemas from Signature Releasing. 

        If you're reading this in the US the film has been retitled HEEL to avoid understandable confusion with Shudder’s recent dog-starring ghost story movie. Indeed, the onscreen title on UK prints is GOOD BOY so presumably the ‘THE’ has been added here to try and help differentiate it as well. Whatever the title, it’s an excellent piece of cinema and well worth catching if you can.

Tommy (Anson Boon who played John Lydon in Danny Boyle’s PISTOL) is a monstrously awful 19 year old who spends his days bullying and stealing, and his nights living it up in a coke-fuelled haze. During one especially massive bender he’s kidnapped and wakes to find himself chained up in a cellar belonging to Christopher (Stephen Graham) and his wife Kathryn (Andrea Riseborough) who, it turns out, live in a remote country house with their son Jonathan (Kit Rakusen). 

It’s clear that Kathryn has undergone some previous trauma and there’s talk of a ‘Charlie’ who isn’t in the house any more. It’s never made clear who Charlie was, or indeed if Jonathan is their actual son or someone else they’ve kidnapped. Meanwhile Christopher takes the lead in ‘rehabilitating’ Tommy using various methods including playing the boy TikTok videos, Ludovico treatment-style, of his past crimes. Will the attempts at reforming Tommy work or will he escape and carry out the violent threats he keeps screaming at Christopher and his family?

THE GOOD BOY has a strong 1970s vibe, reminiscent of everything from Kubrick’s A CLOCKWORK ORANGE to Eloy De La Iglesia’s MURDER IN A  BLUE WORLD with a touch of Pete Walker’s HOUSE OF WHIPCORD for good measure. However as the film continues (and Tommy’s rehabilitation develops) fans of UK TV may also be reminded of the 2006 series LIFE ON MARS. 

        Even if you’ve not seen any of the above be assured that THE GOOD BOY is a fine thriller that will keep you guessing. As to the ending - I won’t say if it’s nihilistic or uplifting, because that’s for you to find out, and, like all the best EuroHorrors from back in the day, perhaps chat about in the car on the way home. Highly recommended and with excellent performances from all the leads. Here’s the trailer:

THE GOOD BOY is out in UK and Irish cinemas now from Signature Entertainment